The party boss of north-eastern Liaoning province, Mr Li, 52, is widely tipped to be President Hu Jintao's anointed successor.

Mr Li has followed a career path similar to his mentor, rising through the ranks of the Communist Youth League to head it in the mid-1990s, before moving on to provincial leadership.

He became the youngest governor in China when he was appointed the No. 2 leader of central Henan province in 1999 at the age of 43. At that time, the former Beijing University economics professor was also said to be the first governor with a PhD.

Mr Li became Henan party secretary in 2003, before moving to Liaoning the following year.

He is now widely expected to be promoted to the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC).

A few analysts believe newly-appointed Shanghai party chief Xi, 54, could soon be elevated to the PSC because he is a 'princeling' agreeable to competing factions within the party.

Praise for Shanghai from Mr Hu and official media in recent days has fanned speculation that Mr Xi may even be groomed as a possible successor to Mr Hu.

The son of the late party elder Xi Zhongxun, Mr Xi is known for his pro-business mindset. He has served his entire career in the provinces, mostly in south-eastern Fujian over the past two decades, before becoming Zhejiang party chief in 2002.

In March, Mr Xi was moved to Shanghai, former president Jiang Zemin's power base, after a huge corruption scandal brought down the former party boss.

The Commerce Minister, 58, is the son of Mr Bo Yibo, one of the most powerful revolutionary veterans in the party until his death earlier this year.

With his experience on the international stage and media-savvy ways, the younger Mr Bo is expected to replace outgoing Vice-Premier Wu Yi.

However, his flashy image goes down poorly with some critics in the conservative camp, and he is not expected to make the cut for the PSC.

Prior to becoming Commerce Minister in 2004, Mr Bo made his name in the 1990s as mayor and then party boss of north-eastern Dalian, which he turned into a thriving port city.

Jiangsu party chief Li, 56, is another protege of Mr Hu from the Youth League in the 1980s.

A dark horse for PSC membership, the well-educated Mr Li holds a master's in economic management from Beijing University and a PhD in law from the Central Party School.

He held a number of central positions in propaganda work and culture in the 1990s. In 2000, he was moved to eastern Jiangsu province as deputy party secretary, becoming party boss two years later.

With his experience in running the wealthy coastal province, Mr Li is viewed as a skilled hand in dealing with private enterprises and foreign investors. He has been tipped as a possible candidate for a vice-premier post.